HUXSTEP Alan Charles

The Huxstep Trilogy ~ Part 2

So Greatly Loved, So Sadly Missed.

Corporal Alan Charles Huxstep Royal Army Service Corps

Alan Charles Huxstep's General Service Medal 'Canal Zone'.

The Man Alan Charles Huxstep was born on 17th April 1932 in Lambeth, Greater London, the only son of Charles Stephen and Doris Elizabeth nee Hurry. During his youth Alan was a member of the scouts and a chorister of the Church at Horndon-on the Hill. He was called up for his National Service when old enough and enlisted into the Royal Army Service Corps with Service number S/22395466 and promoted to Corporal. In 1951 the then Egyptian Government unilaterally declared the 1936 treaty, guaranteeing a British presence at the Suez Canal void, and ordered its police and troops to start harassing British troops in the Zone. This harassment escalated into more serious terrorist activities against British personnel and property and resulted in the ‘Emergency' period of October 1951 to October 1954. The situation became so serious that towards the end of 1951 the garrison in the Zone was increased from about 20,000 troops to 80,000, plus equipment, in just ten days, the swiftest ever build-up by British Armed Forces in peacetime. Alan was sent to the ‘Canal Zone’ as part of the garrison and on 27th April 1952 was killed in action just 10 days after his 20th Birthday. Alan is buried in Moascar War Cemetery, El Alamein, Matruh in Egypt, Grave Section4, Grave Row P, Grave No 10. He is also commemorated on the Armed Forces Memorial at the National Arboretum, Alrewas. It is estimated that around 70% of the British Armed Forces stationed in the Canal Zone during this Emergency period were Conscripts completing their ‘National Service’ and were not fully trained in anti terrorist fighting. For years it was called by many as ‘The Forgotten War fought by a Forgotten Army’, but in July 2003 the British Government decided that, after a long campaign by Suez Veterans and their numerous supporters, those who had served in the Canal Zone from 16th October 1951 to 19th October 1954 were to be awarded the General Service Medal or the Naval General Service Medal with ‘Canal Zone’ clasp, 50 years after the event. Alan was posthumously awarded his as one of the 300 servicemen killed in action on 13th April 2017, just short of 65 years to the day he died, and also the Elizabeth Cross on 17th July 2017

Click here to read about the Canal Zone Crisis

Click here to see the Canal Zone Roll of Honour

Click here to see Alan Charles Huxstep's National Memorial Certificate

Click here to read about Moascar Cemetery

Click here to see photographs of the National Memorial Alrewas

The Story The General Service Medal awarded to Alan Charles Huxstep was posthumously awarded to him on 13th April 2017, almost 65 years to the day following his death. It was issued direct by the Ministry of Defence Medal Office following application on behalf of Alan’s surviving relative. The story surrounding its award is interesting and convoluted. Back in 1997, Alan’s Father, Charles Stephen Huxstep’s 1914-18 British War Medal was acquired direct from a colleague who worked at Conoco in Warwick. It is not known if he was any relation or how he came by the medal. 16 years later in 2013 research was undertaken and Charles’ brief biography placed on this web site. In December 2016 - 19 years after the acquisition of Charles’ medal, his Grandson Steven, who lives in Australia, made contact and provided additional information enabling expansion of Charles’ biography; he also advised that Charles had re-married and had a son, Alan Charles and that he had died in 1952 in Egypt. Further enquiries on Ancestry.UK allowed Alan’s brief biography to be completed and confirmed he had been a National Serviceman and sadly killed in action whilst serving in Egypt during the Canal Zone incident in 1952. With the help of Steven, who kindly agreed to assist with research, Alan’s long overdue medal and Elizabeth Cross were acquired and placed alongside his Father’s, thus enabling a long forgotten and unknown youngster, who fought and died for his Crown & Country to be remembered. See Charles Stephen Huxstep's story for more details.

Click here to read about Alan's Father Charles Stephen Huxstep.

Click here to read about Alan's half brother Arthur Steven Huxstep.